Tian’anmen
was the front gate of the Imperial Palace during the
Ming and Qing dynasties. Originally built in 1417
and named Chengtianmen, it was burnt down and
rebuilt several times. The present gate tower was
rebuilt in 1651 and renamed Tian’anmen. Ming and
Qing emperors would issue decrees from the gate
tower and pass through it when they went to the
Temple of Heaven in early winter, the Temple of
Earth in early summer and to the Temple of
agriculture in early spring, or when he led troops
on an expedition. The gate has five openings and
nine tiers of eaves. Two pairs of white marble
pillars stand inside and outside the central
opening. Each stone pillar has a stone beast
crowching on top and carvings of clouds and a dragon
around it. There are also two pairs of stone lions
inside and outside of the gate. After the founding
of new China in 1949 reviewing stands were built on
the two sides of the gate. In spring and autumn
flowers in front of the reviewing stands attract
many visitors. Five white marble bridges span the
Golden Water River which flows in front of the
Tian’anmen. In front of the gate is the world’s
largest open ground in the city -- the Tian’anmen
Square.

Huabiao in front of Tian’anmen
In ancient China ornamented stone
pillars were often erected by a bridge, palace hall
or city wall as an ornament or landmark. The
huaobiao in front and behind Tian’anmen were carved
out of a whole piece of white marble and bear
exquisite carvings in relief. They are the best of
huabiao in the country.

Great Hall of the People

It serves as the meeting place of the
National People’ s Congress. The immense building is
divided into the meeting hall of 10, 000 seats,
banquet hall for 5, 000 guests and offices of the
Standing Committee members. It takes up an area of
170, 000 square meters. The national emblem hangs
above the front gate.

Monument to the People’s Heroes

The monument is dedicated to those who
died for the national independence and freedom since
1840. It is 37.94 meters high and occupies an area
of 3, 000 aquare meters. On the from side which
faces Tian’ anmen is eight gilt Chinese characters
in Chairman Mao Zedong’ s handwriting:" People’ s
Heroes Are Immortal". An inscription on the backside
is the handwriting of the late Premier Zhou Enlai.